Scott Rickenbach
Washington Wizards at Philadelphia 76ers
While this line may seem steep, there is actually a lot of value with Philadelphia in this spot. The Sixers are "feeling it" right now and that means they're not going to slow down at home. Here they will take advantage of an injury-ravaged Washington team who just took yet another hit on the injury front. The Wizards just can't get healthy and, until they do, they will continue to struggle. Basically, it's already a "lost season" for Washington and they're starting to play like it! The Wizards most recent game was a 22 point loss at Miami on Wednesday.
Play on: Philadelphia
Tom Freese
Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City is 7-0 ATS their 7 road games vs. teams with a winning home record and they are 21-5 ATS their last 26 games as underdogs. The Thunder is 10-2 ATS when playing with one day of rest and they are 7-1 ATS on Friday. Utah is 0-6 ATS their last 6 games overall and they are 0-5 ATS after allowing 100 or more points in their last game. The Jazz are 0-4 ATS their last 4 home games and they are 0-4 ATS when their opponent scored 100 or more points in their last game. PLAY ON OKLAHOMA CITY +
Brian Hansen
Minnesota Wild at Edmonton Oilers
Prediction: Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers look to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat and earn their first win in 13 tries against Backstrom when they host Minnesota on Friday in a matchup of Northwest Division teams with identical records; Edmonton is a perfect 3-0 after playing to 3 or more consecutive overs; play on the OILERS!
Larry Ness
Pennsylvania @ Harvard
PICK: Harvard
Penn and Princeton dominated the Ivy League for two decades but Cornell went 14-0 last year, becoming the first school other than Penn or Princeton to win an Ivy League crown since 1988 (Cornell won that year as well). Princeton's fall from grace is in its fifth year (Tigers won just six games LY and an average of 12.7 per year the previous three seasons) but Penn had won three straight Ivy League titles before last year's 13-18 season (8-6 in league play). Head coach Glen Miller won 22 games (13-1 in the Ivy League) in his first season in Philadelphia (2006-07) but so far, his Quakers have shown few signs this year of rebounding from last season's troubles. That's despite the fact that the Quakers returned 74.8 percent of their scoring and 77 percent of their rebounding totals from LY. The 6-6 Bernardini (14.5-4.1), the 6-8 Eggleston (10.4-5.9) and 6-0 guard Gaines (9.0) are all now sophomores. Senior guard Egee (7.4) and fellow senior, the 6-7 Votel (10.3-4.8), join freshman PG Rosen (7.0-3.4-4.9) plus the aforementioned sophomores, to form the nucleus of this year's team. Not much has gone right so far, as Penn is 4-10 overall and just 1-5 SU on the road, winning only at infamous NJIT! Up in Cambridge, Mass, Harvard is 9-7 overall and the Crimson did make a big 'splash' when they beat then-No. 24 Boston College 82-70, right after the Eagles had upset then-No. 1 North Carolina. Tommy Amaker underachieved at Michigan and landed at Harvard last year, going 8-22 (3-11 in the Ivy League) in his first year. The Crimson own one of the league's best players in junior guard Lin (18.1-5.6-5.0) who is joined by a handful of vets and three pretty good freshman. Senior guards Housman (7.1) and Pusar (6.1) plus 6-7 junior Miller (5.5-3.5) are the vets making contributions this year. As for those freshman, they are the 6-7 Boehm (8.1), the 6-7 Wright (7.7-5.8) and 6-5 guard Kenyi (7.2). I would have thought Penn would have shown some improvement this year but that's NOT been the case. The Quakers lost 89-79 at Harvard last year and the Crimson have already exceeded their win total from last year with 12 games remaining in their season. Lay the points with Tommy Amaker's crew.
TEDDY COVERS
MIAMI AT INDIANA
Recommendation: Indiana
Indiana is finally healthy, and finally developing a healthy sense of confidence that eluded them earlier this season. They’ve won three out of five and covered the spread in seven of their last nine. The Pacers are an extremely difficult team to defend since Mike Dunleavy returned from injury. Starting forward Troy Murphy was quoted as saying,“I feel we are…about to really get ourselves going. I feel more comfortable about myself and the team every game we play.” With six players averaging in double figures,and first-time all-star Danny Granger becoming a true crunch time force, Indiana is very much a bet-on team right now, particularly at home. Miami doesn’t have the same level of balance or depth, more of a one trick pony-type of team. Dwayne Wade may be capable of carrying this team to the playoffs, but he has not been capable of getting the Heat into the win column in these one game road trip situations. The results don’t lie as Miami is just 1-5 SU on single game trips like this one, including SU and ATS losses at the Knicks, Bobcats and Grizzlies. With trade rumors swirling around the Heat right now and a very winnable game at home against the Wizards on Saturday, look for this Friday Night affair to be a real flat spot for the road team.
Vegas Experts
Charlotte Bobcats at Denver Nuggets
At first, the Nuggets were strictly an Over team without Carmello Anthony. Now, they have gone Under in four straight. Still, Denver is 12-6 to the Over when playing below than .500 competition. Now, Anthony is expected to make his return tonight. Charlotte has gone Over in eight of 12 against Western Conference competition. Denver is also a strong Over play in non-conference games, cashing 48 of 73 tickets (including 10-5 this year).
Play on: Over
Dave Price
1 Unit on Wizards +10.5
Washington has been terrible on the road this season but it falls into a unique system tonight that has me confident that it will be competitive. Washington is 10-1 ATS in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons, actually winning in this spot by an average score of 95 to 92.6. Washington played Philly to a tight 6-point game the last time these teams faced off and it is coming off an embarrassing loss to Miami. Expect Washington to bounce back and be competitive in this spot. Take the points!
Jeff Alexander Sports
1 Unit on Yale +2
Columbia has been blown out in back to back games and has dropped 5 of 6 while Yale comes in having won 5 in a row. Yale's defense is just playing too well right now for Columbia to get back in the win column tonight. First off Yale is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 at Columbia and plays on road teams as an underdog or pick (YALE) - after allowing 65 points or less 4 straight games against opponent after 2 straight losses by 10 points or more are a strong 29-6 ATS since 1997. Lastly, Columbia is 9-21 ATS as a home favorite of 6 points or less or pick since 1997. Take Yale.
Matt Rivers
For Friday take the points with the Nets in Hotlanta.
Atlanta has been great at Philips Arena this season but things have not been all that great of late with Al Horford out of the lineup and I don't expect a 180 right here as the second year center is still out injured.
The Nets have been a better than expected team so far this season and especially so on the road. New Jersey was expected to be completely dreadful this season as Vegas had their win total in the 20's but Devin Harris is blossoming into a total stud and Vince Carter and a few other players are still good enough to get it done.
The Hawks are a quality team that should make the playoffs once again as Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams are really good but they have dropped three straight and 8 of 12 and have failed to cash the ticket in two of their last three at home.
This is far from a mortal lock as the 20-26 Nets are still far from being even good as losing seven of eight would attest to but until the Hawks start rising up again I can't help but back this capable enough dog at this too good to pas up number.
Karl Garrett
Oklahoma City +8 at UTAH
Now 5-0 the last 5 days, 48-29-4 overall with my comp plays!
Tonight, take the points with the Thunder as they head to Salt Lake City for a date with the Jazz.
Oklahoma City has been playing much better since the start of the season, as the Thunder are actually 6-4 straight up their last 10 games, and do come to the Energy Solutions Center having won and covered their last pair, and 3 of their last 4 overall!
Sure, Okie is just 3-18 straight up on the road this year, but they are 15-6 with the points on the road, and they do catch the Jazzmen in a free-fall right now, as Jerry Sloan's club is looking to end a 4-game straight up slide, and a 6-game against the spread slide!
Utah is just 3-10 against the spread this month, and that does include a 114-93 loss at Oklahoma City back on January 14th!
The Thunder is on a 3-0 spread run in this series, and they have covered 7 of the last 9 series meetings overall.
G-Man taking the points tonight.
4♦ OKLAHOMA CITY
Sports Gambling Hotline
Boston -5' at DETROIT
We can't make a case for the points tonight at the Auburn Palace, as Boston is just too good for this Detroit team.
The Celtics latest winning streak is at 9 straight, and they have covered in 8 of those 9. Boston is also a positive 15-7 straight up on the road this year, and that includes an 88-76 romp past the Pistons at the Auburn Palace in November as the one point underdog.
In fact, Boston has won and covered both meetings this year with Detroit, and they are on an 8-2 straight up, and against the spread run (playoffs included) the last 10 times they have tangled with their Eastern Conference "rival".
Detroit has been a bust this season, and they come into this one having lost their last pair of home games both straight up, and against the spread, and they are just 13-9 straight up at home, and a worse 7-15 against the spread on their own hardwood!
Boston once again shows why they are the class of the East Conference with the road win, and cover tonight.
5♦ BOSTON
Chris Jordan
Princeton -1' at DARTMOUTH
First game in Ivy League play for the Tigers, and I'm goingt to side with them here, as they take on a 3-13 Dartmouth team that has thee worst overall record in the conference and bank on just one player to do it all for them. Not a good thing against an always tenacious Princeton defense.
Granted, senior forward Alex Barnett is a potential first-team Ivy League player who can fire from anywhere on the wood, but with the Tigers riding a three-game win streak into this one, the momentum is on our side tonight.
Princeton is 3-0 ATS onthe highway this season, and allow me to point out this is a Dartmouth team that just snapped an eight-game losing streak, and those losses included Quinnipiac, Stony Brook, New Hampshire and Army.
Not exactly competition to write home about.
Take the road team in this one.
1♦ PRINCETON
Jorge Gonzalez
Boston -5.5
The Boston Celtics (38-9) will be looking to keep their perfect streak alive when they roll into Detroit and take on the misfiring Pistons. After hitting a road bump in the season that saw the Celtics go 2-7, Boston looks like the team that started the season a franchise-best 29-2.
Boston has won their last nine straight games by an average margin of 16.5 points per game. The Celtics have rallied as a team and has had several players step up as a whole to help the ?Big Three? of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Peirce.
Eddie House has been unconscious in three of his last four scoring at least 23 points. He is nailing 22 of 32 ( 68.8%) during the stretch and has his teammates campaigning for inclusion in the 3-point contest during All-Star weekend.
"He needs to be in the 3-point contest," said Kevin Garnett, selected as an All-Star starter. "That's what this press conference is about: Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are here to say that we think Eddie House needs to be in the 3-point contest."
The chemistry that the Celtics have is missing from the once proud and cohesive Detroit Pistons. The Pistons were happy to get a 98-89 victory over the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves their last time out.
"We really needed it. I think we needed it more than (the Timberwolves)," center Rasheed Wallace said of the victory. "They were pretty hot here in the month of January. I think we just wanted a little more to get off this (darn) slide we were on."
Don't expect the frustrated Pistons to turn things around over their next two games that have them taking on the Celtics and Cavaliers in back-to-back games. The Celtics have won five of their last six games against the Pistons, the only loss coming at the end of last season when they were resting their starters for the playoffs.
The Celtics have covered their last seven straight games. The struggling Pistons have failed to cover the spread in their last four games against teams with a winning record and when they face an opponent who has scored 100 or more points in the previous game. Lay the points here with the Celtics.
John Ryan Sports
Valparaiso Crusaders @ Butler Bulldogs
Pick: Valparaiso Crusaders +17.5
Ai Simulator 3* graded play on Valparaiso as they travel to face Butler slated to start at 7:00 EST. AiS shows a 72% probability that VALPO will lose this game by 17 or fewer points. Supporting this graded play is a strong system that has produced a record of 41-19 ATS for 68% since 2003. Play against any team that is a good 3PT shooting team hitting >=36.5% facing an average 3PT defense allowing 32-36.5% after 15+ games and after 4 straight games allowing a shooting percentage of 40% or less. Butler is 18-1 and they have done it with a methodical prodding offense and stifling defense. However, VALPO is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in road games versus slow-down teams averaging 53 or less shots/game since 1997. Because of the slow tempo this game will take on rebounds will be below average for VALPO. AiS shows an 88% probability that Valpo will have between 34 and 39 rebounds and in past games where this has occurred Valpo is a solid 19-7 ATS since 1997.
Lakers at Minnesota
Lakers by 7 points based on Ai Simulator estimate.
I have been running very hot of late with 10 and 15* graded plays and this one will be a 5* graded Monster play on the Lakers. Minnesota has played exceptional team basketball in January. They have won 5 of the last 6 and three of them have been on the road against Phoenix, the LA Clippers, and Milwaukee. Entering Wednesday night they will be a pick-em hosting Detroit, a team that is 5 games over 500. I point this out only to show that the public is beginning to back Minnesota in a big way given that the winning ways have been evident for more than a month. They are 11-2 in January and that is amazing.
Enter the best team in the NBA, based on my research and opinion, in the Lakers on Thursday night. The Lakers normally may be prone to taking Minnesota lightly, but given how well Minnesota has played in January they will be prepared and focused to win this game. Reality is that Minnesota is no where close to being just a 5 point dog to these powerful Lakers. The Lakers bench might be able to defeat the Minnesota starters on any given night. The Lakers, when prepared, do not turn the ball over, giving the opposition easy transition opportunities. AiS shows an 856% probability that the Lakers will have 12 or fewer turnovers. Note that Minnesota is just 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) in home games in games where they force 12 or fewer turnovers over the last 2 seasons. Minnesota has run and up tempo style of offense during the winning month, but the Lakers thrive against these one dimensional teams. The Lakers are the only NBA team that can flip a switch and the lock down defense is applied and suffocates an offense that may have been clicking on all cylinders just minutes ago. I will have more detail about this game later this week so be sure to get my podcast for Friday that will further examine this strong opportunity. Lakers are 25-12 ATS against teams averaging 83 or more shots per game over the past 2 seasons.
DUNKEL
Brown at Cornell
Brown (6-10 SU) comes in with an 0-4 ATS record against teams with a winning record, while Cornell (12-6 SU) is 4-1 ATS against teams with a losing record. The Big Red are the pick (-14) according to Dunkel, which has Cornell favored by 17. Dunkel Pick: Cornell (-14).
Game 873-874: Princeton at Dartmouth
Dunkel Ratings: Princeton 48.498; Dartmouth 43.294
Dunkel Line: Princeton by 5
Vegas Line: Princeton by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Princeton (-1 1/2)
Game 875-876: Valparaiso at Butler
Dunkel Ratings: Valparaiso 51.428; Butler 71.940
Dunkel Line: Butler by 20 1/2
Vegas Line: Butler by 17 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Butler (-17 1/2)
Game 877-878: Yale at Columbia
Dunkel Ratings: Yale 48.424; Columbia 49.840
Dunkel Line: Columbia by 1 1/2
Vegas Line: Columbia by 2
Dunkel Pick: Yale (+2)
Game 879-880: Brown at Cornell
Dunkel Ratings: Brown 45.878; Cornell 62.852
Dunkel Line: Cornell by 17
Vegas Line: Cornell by 14
Dunkel Pick: Cornell (-14)
Game 881-882: Pennsylvania at Harvard
Dunkel Ratings: Pennsylvania 47.892; Harvard 52.492
Dunkel Line: Harvard by 4 1/2
Vegas Line: Harvard by 7
Dunkel Pick: Pennsylvania (+7)
Game 883-884: Marist at Fairfield
Dunkel Ratings: Marist 48.737; Fairfield 55.659
Dunkel Line: Fairfield by 7
Vegas Line: Fairfield by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Fairfield (-6 1/2)
Game 885-886: Loyola-MD at Rider
Dunkel Ratings: Loyola-MD 50.465; Rider 53.968
Dunkel Line: Rider by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: Rider by 6 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Loyola-MD (+6 1/2)